Tracker for piano-player.



E. T. TURNEY.'

TRACKER For: mno PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22| 191 i.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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EUGENE T. TURNEY, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN PLAYER ACTION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

TRACKER FOR PIANO-PLAYERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE T. TURNEY, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Tracker for Piano-Players, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in piano players in which a strip of perforated material is caused to pass over a member having apertures therein, usually termed a tracker-board, for the purpose of closing the apertures in said tracker-board, except as and when the perforations in said material come into coincidence with the said apertures. As is obvious, in order to secure the most successful operation of such a mechanism, the perforations in the material should pass directly over, or track with, the apertures in the tracker-board; and one of the objects of my invention is the provision of facilities for securing the registration, or tracking, of the perforations in the material with the apertures in the tracker board.

I secure the above objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of my invention; Fig. 1aL is a horizontal section of an end of the music roll; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the tracker-board on line Z-EZ of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the face of the tracker-board showing the preferred relation of the tracker and note apertures; and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the valves in the pneumatic.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar portions throughout the several views.

The reference numerals 1 and 2 designate the side bars of the spool frame, across the center of which, between the side bars, extends the tracker-board, 3. In the upper portion of the side-bar, 1, is mounted a bushing or bearing, 4, through which extends the spindle, 5. Upon the inner end of the spindle, 5, is a cone shaped plug, 6, which extends into a cone shaped depression in the end of the music spool, 7. Behind the plug, 6, upon the spindle, 5, is a collar, 8, and between this collar and the inner end of the bushing or bearing, 4, is provided a spring, 9, which presses the spindle, 5, and

the music spool, 7, yieldingly toward the lside bar, 2, of the spool frame. A collar, 10, 1s secured to the outer end of the spindle, 5, by means of a set screw, 11, in order to prevent the spring, 9, from forcing the spindle, 5, out of its bearing when a music spool is not in engagement with the plug, 6.

I n the side bar, 2, opposite the bearing, 4, 1s a bearing or bushing, 12, in which is mounted a spindle, 18, which alines with the spindle, 5. Upon the inner end of the spindle, 13, is a rectangular plug, 14, the base of which forms a shoulder similar to the shoulder formed by the collar, 8, upon the spindle, 5. A bracket, 15, extends from the inner face of the side bar, 2, into which screws a knurled headed screw, 16. The screw, 16 contacts with the shoulder formed by the plug, 14, and comprises a means for adjusting the longitudinal location of the music spool, 7 when a new piece is started.

The spindle, 13, is extended outside the side-bar, 2, and upon this extended portion is mounted a sprocket wheel, 17, which connects with a suitable motor (not shown) for driving the spindle, 13, and through it the music spool, 7 Between the lower ends of the side-bars, 1 and 2, is revolubly mounted another music spool, 7, from which the music roll or sheet is wound upon the spool 7. The music spool, 7a, is provided with suitable re-wind mechanism (not shown), and may shift longitudinally so as to follow the longitudinal movement of the spool, 7, and track therewith.

It will now be seen that when a music spool is secured between the inner ends of the spindles, 5 and 13, the spindle 13 may be pressed inwardly against the tension of the spring, 9, but that the spring, 9, will maintain the music spool yieldingly as far toward the side bar, 2, as the screw, 16, will permit it to go.

As is well known, the tracker-board is provided with the note apertures, 18, which lead to mechanism for operating the piano action. Above these apertures, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, I provide a common channel, 19, which extends throughout the portion of the tracker-board occupied by the note apertures. Located just above the right end of each note aperture is provided a much smaller aperture 20 leading from the face of the tracker-board to the channel, 19. The preferred location of these tracker apertures, 20, is such that when a perforation in the music roll is properly approaching a note aperture it will cover one-half of a tracker aperture, as clearly shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. That is, one of the numerous edges of the paper formed by the note apertures in the sheet will normally travel in a path in which one of the tracker apertures 20 lies.

Located in the side bars, 1 and 2, above the tracker-board, are felt bushings 21, through which extends a rod, 22, upon the right hand end of which is secured by means of the set screw, 23, the arm, 24, through a hole, 25, in the upper end of which extends the reduced end, 26, of the spindle, 13. The opposite end of the rod, 22, which extends through the side bar, 1, is threaded, and upon it is pro-vided the nut, 27.

Extending from the lower outer tace of the side bar, 1, is a bracket, 28, upon which is secured a pneumatic. This pneumatic comprises a casing in which there is a vac uum chamber 29. @ne of the side walls, 30, is secured thereto by means of screws, 31, so that it may be removed and access thereby secured to the chamber. A passageway, 32, leads from the side of said chamber to an opening in the bottom of the casing, from w'hence it is connected by piping, 33, with the mechanism l(not shown) for producing the vacuum.

Tn the lower wall of the casing under the vacuum chamber, 29,- is provided a diaphragm chamber, 34, which is separated from the vacuum chamber by the diaphragm, 35. A reduced passageway or bleed hole, 36, is provided between the diaphragm chamber and the vacuum chamber. From the diaphragm chamber, 34, is a passageway, 37, leading to the channel, 19, in the tracker-board.

Directly above the diaphragm, 35, is aport, 38, which is enlarged to form the lower shoulder, 39, upon which rests a valve seat, 40. Above the shoulder, 39, the port or passageway is again enlarged to form the shoulder, 41, upon which rests a valve seat, 42, similar to the valve seat, 40, except that it is of larger diameter. These valve seats, 40 and 42, have arms, 43, ex tending into their central portions, and the ends of these arms are punched to form guides for a valve stem, 44, which extends downwardly into proximity with the diaphragm, 35, and carries upon its lower end a button, 45, which contacts with the diaphragm. From between the shoulders, 39 and 41, leads a passageway, 46, to the top of the casing where it communicates with a bellows, 47, which is secured thereto. To

the movable member, 48, of this bellows is secured an arm, 49, through the outer end of which extends the rod, 22.

Provided upon the valve stem, 44, are the valves, clearly shown in Fig. 4. These comprise the flat rim portions, 50, which contact with the valve seats, and the rearwardly convexed central portions, 51, through the central portions of which are apertures which are of sutlicient size to per-- mit the valve stem, 44, to pass through and have some play. A packing washer, 52, separates the two valves. Ears, 44a, are pressed outwardly from the valve stem, 44, just below the lower valve seat, 51, so that when the valve stem is elevatedby the diaphragm it raises the lower and seats the upper valve seat. The convex portions are so proportioned as to space the rim portions so that when one valve is upon its seat the other valve is uncovered. The convexity of the portions of the two valves which come together in combination with their loose attachment to the valve stem permits the valves to move and roll upon each other so that the rim portions may be drawn squarely upon their seats.

The operation of my invention is as follows z-We will presume the music spool, 7 has been adjusted by means of the screw, 16, so that the first perforations in the music roll approach the note apertures, 18, in the tracker-board properly. The spring, 9, upon the spindle, 5, always tends to press the music spool, 7, and music roll carried thereby toward the right. The approaching perforation in the music roll splits or just uncovers the tracker aperture above its particular note. This permits air to pass into the common channel, 19, behind the tracker apertures, and from thence through the passageway, 37, to the diaphragm chamber, 34. This air forces the diaphragm, 35, and valve stem, 44, upwardly thereby opening the valve leading from the vacuum chamber and closing the upper valve to the atmosphere. This establishes communication between the bellows, 47, and the vacuum chamber through the passageway, 46. The bellows being thus emptied it is closed by the atmospheric pressure thereby moving the rod, 22, to the left through the arm, 49. The rod, 22, through the arm, 24, forces the spindle, 13, and music spool, 7, to the left against the action of the spring, 9. The above described operations etiect the closing of the tracker aperture, 20. The supply of air being thereby shut o from the diaphragm chamber, the chamber is exhausted through the bleed hole, 36, thereby permitting the valve stem, 44, to fall and the communication between the vacuum chamber and the bellows is closed and a communication between the bellows and the air established. This would permit the spring, 9, to again force the music ture.

spool, 7 to the right until the tracker aperture was again uncovered, when the above operations would be repeated.

The above assumes only one of the note apertures of the sheet to be acting on its tracking aperture. In practice it will frequently happen that a number of tracking apertures are opened at once, and that sometimes a smaller number and at other times a larger number of tracking apertures will be opened. It is the total open area at any one time which controls the operation. When this total open area is less than that of the bleed hole the vacuum in the chamber, 34, will be maintained and the spring, 9, will be the predominating force. When the total open area is greater a relative pressure will occur in the chamber 34, and the pneumatic will be operated. No matter what the open area may be, the action of the spring will tend to bring the pneumatic into play, and any movement of the pneumatic will tend to cause the cutting off of its suction and the bringing of the spring into play. The only effect of a variation in the number of tracking holes opened at a time is to vary the quickness with which the pneumatic will be brought into action.

The above arrangement results in maintaining the perforation in the music roll in precisely the right relation to the note aper- When it starts to deviate in either direction its tendency is overcome by either the spring or the pneumatic, either one or both of which are constantly working upon it, and, so to speak, balancing it in the right position.

There are many advantages secured by m mechanism, some of which are,-it is controlled by the note perforations, which must remain in fairly good condition as long as the music roll is serviceable at all, instead of by the edges or other portions of the roll which are of varyin distances from the notes and are most lia le to be and oftenest are damaged; it is subject to the control of each and every note perforation, thereby being operative whenever the instrument is playing; and the constant action of the device adapts itself to overcoming the effects of unequal expansion and contraction in different portions of the music roll.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. A tracker mechanism for piano players comprising a tracker board, a laterally movable music roll, a tracker aperture in the path of an edge of the music sheet, a pneumatic controlled by the lateral movement of said edge relatively to the tracker aperture, and means for transmitting the movement of said pneumatic to said music roll, said transmitting means comprising a spindlev 13 supporting one end of said music roll and serving to rotate it, a spring pressing the music roll against the spindle, pneumatic means for pressing said 'spindle in the opposite direction, a fixed bracket 15 and a nut 16 carried thereby and enga 'ng a shoulder on the spindle 13 to ad]ustably limit its movement by said spring.

2. A tracker mechanism for piano players comprising a tracker board, a laterally movable music roll, a tracker aperture in the path of an edge of the music sheet, a pneumatic controlled by the lateral movement of said edge relatively to the tracker aperture, and means for transmitting the movement of said pneumatic to said music roll, said transmitting means comprising a spindle 13 supporting one end of said music roll and serving to rotate the same, a spring pressing the music roll against said spindle, a rod 22 located between the tracker board and the music spool, connected at one end to a movable part of said pneumatic and adapted to be reciprocated by said pneumatic in a direction parallel to the axis of said roll and an arm 24 on the opposite end of said rod engaging the outer end of said spindle, a fixed bracket 15, a nut 16 carried thereby and engaging a shoulder on the spindle 13 to adjustably limit its movement by said spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE T. TURNEY.

Witnesses:

T. A. MURPHY, A. G. SAMPsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve centi each, by addressing the Commissioner of latent, Washington, D. C. 

